Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD/SHS)
Mangalore, Apr 16: With less than 24 hours to go for the Lok Sabha elections in the state, preparations are on in full swing in the city with mustering procedures and allotment of election officials getting under way at Canara School, Mannagudda here on Wednesday April 16.
All the booth-level officers, presiding officers (PROs), and assistant presiding officers (APROs) reported to duty to their respected sector officers at 9:30 am. Polling officers were instructed to carry the EVMs along with them while going to their respected booths.
A sector officer is given 30 to 40 booth stations to look after. He has to take with him extra Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), in case an EVM malfunctions in any booth. There are also officials on standby to fill in if any person on duty has to leave due to sickness or any emergency.
A special police force has been allotted to highly sensitive polling stations. About 75 to 100 Kerala State Armed Police Force (KSAPF) have been deployed in Naxal-affected areas to ensure peaceful polling. Food and accomodation have also been arranged for booth station workers. As many as 257 buses, 20 mini buses, 135 maxi cabs, 123 jeeps and 16 lorries have been allotted for election duty.
Additional 905 police personnel have arrived in the district to keep vigil and ensure free and fair elections.
Police commissioner R Hitendra addressing a press meet at his office said 62 polling booths have been identified as Naxal-affected, 122 booths as highly sensitive, 227 sensitive and 553 common booths under the limitts of DK police. Police has beefed up security ahead of elections to ensure that there are no irregularities or untowards incidents, he said.
In addition, one contingent of BSF and KLSAP would further tighten the security, while four additional KSRP troops will provide security in the Naxal-affected booths. The police department under the Security Act has registered 140 cases till date, he said.
Prior to the elections, the ANF has already begun combing operations in the Naxal-affected areas. Close circuit cameras have been installed in such booths, he added.
Mangalore Assembly constituency
Of the 849 polling booths in Mangalore Assembly constituency, 85 are very sensitive, 157 sensitive, and 607 common booths. Police have deployed staff at each booth. CPMF troops are deployed to guard the places identified as very sensitive.
The electronic voting machines would be locked up in Mahatma Gandhi Centenary Pre-University College, Bondel after the polling day on April 17 till the counting day on May 16.
Also, 19 check posts have been set up. The 849 booths have been divided into 52 sectors and for each sector, PSI-led sector mobile officials have been deployed. Nineteen super nursery mobiles would operate on the polling day.
Four mustering - demustering places have been listed: 201-Moodbidri (KPT Kadri, Mangalore), 202-Mangalore City North (Gokarnanatha PU College), 203 Mangalore City South (Canara High School) and 204- Mangalore, Ullal (Ramakrishna Education Institution, Bunts Hostel road).
For all these centres full-fledged security has been be provided, headed by B G Subrahmanya, ACP, CCRP Mangalore.
Udupi
Pics by Umesh Marpalli
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